Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Topic #3: Scapes

Dictionary.com defines -scape as:
Discovery Park Lighthouse
a combining form extracted from landscape,  denoting “an extensive view, scenery,” or “a picture or representation” of such a view, as specified by the initial element: cityscape; moonscape; seascape.
 
This comes to mind because the name of our local garbage collectors is "Cleanscapes." Yes, an extensive view of clean.
 
So, this month's assignment is to capture a -scape of any variety. Maybe it's a little vague, but I'm concerned the prior topics were too limiting.

As an added bonus, I will provide some (amateur) tips on composition:
1.  Foreground, midground, background. Use them all (at once). I like the my lighthouse picture (above) because it has driftwood in the foreground, a lighthouse in the midground, and the mountains and clouds in the background. 
 
Don't take my word for it, see what the professionals do: Iceland Volcano Eruption
Most people would be satisfied with an erupting volcano amongst snow-capped mountains. But, the professional photographer adds a barn (to good effect).

2. Avoid the center. Maybe it's a biological thing related to the fovea of the eye, but things are more interesting off-center. Put the horizon 1/3 from the top or bottom. Make the most interesting part of the picture seem like an afterthought.

3. Don't follow rules of amateur photographers.

Next month: Black and White.
 

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